Ladies and gentlemen of the Sackets Harbor Village Council, and the all-mighty Mayor – oh, how the fates have conspired to bring us together today! I’m here to talk about the brainwave that is building houses on the Sackets Harbor Battlefield. Now, if that doesn’t give you pause, I’m wondering if our history books are just too heavy to lift.

First up, let’s talk respect – or lack thereof. This hallowed ground was not only a battlefield but a graveyard where British, Canadian, and Mississauga Indians were laid to rest. We might as well put up a sign that says, “Here lies historical integrity, may it rest in pieces.”

Now, onto our neighbors to the North – and no, I don’t mean the folks who never return your lawnmower. Canada and the United Kingdom, my friends. You bulldoze over this sacred ground, and I bet my bottom dollar that international side-eye is going to be Olympic-level. They might start to think our middle name is “Bad Neighbor.”

I get it – housing is necessary. But let’s use those brilliant brains of ours and think this through. There’s a whole lot of earth out there. So why, oh why, does it have to be the one speck of land that’s soaked with the blood and sweat of our history?

And let’s not forget about education and tourism. This isn’t just a plot of land – it’s a living, breathing classroom. People visit to touch history, to connect with a time long gone. Let’s not rip those pages out of the book. Plus, imagine waking up in one of those new houses and being greeted by a spectral soldier looking for his musket.

Dear council members, let’s have a heart-to-heart here. This is bigger than the bricks and concrete. This is about the soul of a nation, the whisper of history, and the echoes of lives lived and lost. This is about showing the world, and our kids, that some things are more sacred than a two-car garage.

So, let’s do the right thing. Let’s treasure this land like the priceless jewel it is. Let’s honor those who fought and died here, and let’s carve out a space that pays tribute to our past while inspiring our future.

Now, with my humble rant delivered, I leave it to you, the esteemed custodians of Sackets Harbor, to steer the ship with wisdom and heart.

May the muses of reason and reverence guide you. This is Hans Wilder, just a voice among the voices, signing off. Onwards!